Floating a village of sampans

Cong Kien• DNUM_AJZABZCABI 09:38

(Baonghean.vn) - Rural villages are becoming more and more prosperous. The fields and gardens are green and lush, and the houses are spacious. However, the fishing village of Ha Long (Thanh Ha commune - Thanh Chuong) still preserves a riverine community.

Làng chài
The Ha Long ferry hamlet, Thanh Ha commune (Thanh Chuong) has more than 10 households, nestled on the right bank of the Lam River. For generations, life has been closely linked to the river, all activities are associated with small, cramped boats. Photo: Cong Kien

Những con thuyền
The boat is anchored to simple and makeshift bamboo poles. So on days of heavy rain and rising water, the residents of Ha Long sampan are on duty 24/7 to guard the boat - the family's greatest asset. Photo: Cong Kien

Watch clip about life and livelihood of Ha Long fishing village

Nguồn thu nhập hàng ngày của cư dân vạn đò Hà Long phụ thuộc vào chài lưới, cuộc sống đang ngày càng thêm bấp bênh vì cá, tôm ngày một khan hiếm. Anh Trần Văn Lai - một nhà chài, cho biết, sau một đêm thả lưới chỉ được khoảng 50.000 - 70.000 đồng, số tiền ấy đã rất eo hẹp cho trang trải nhu cầu thường nhật của gia đình, chưa nói đến việc học hành của các con. Ảnh: Công Kiên
The daily income of the residents of Ha Long boat village depends on fishing, and life is becoming more and more precarious because fish and shrimp are becoming increasingly scarce. Mr. Tran Van Lai - a fisherman, said that after a night of fishing, he only earned about 50,000 - 70,000 VND, an amount that is very limited to cover the daily needs of the family, not to mention the education of the children. Photo: Cong Kien

đánh cá
The small boat of Nguyen Thi Tuyet and her husband is divided into 3 compartments: the kitchen compartment; the sleeping compartment and the living compartment. The 8-month-old baby girl has priority to sleep on a small hammock, while her parents and brother sleep on the floor of the boat. Photo: Cong Kien

h
Boy Tran Minh Cuong (born in 2011, first grader) placed a folding table in the "reception" compartment to practice writing. The table was unstable and always swaying, making it difficult for Cuong to study. Photo: Cong Kien


củi
In the cold winter, boat people warm themselves with small pieces of firewood floating on the river after being picked up and dried. At this time, the corrugated iron roofs of boats become drying yards. Photo: Cong Kien

mơ
After a night of working hard to make a living, going up and down the Lam River to catch shrimp and fish, the men in the Ha Long boat village sit on their boats and chat, dreaming of having a garden on land to build a small house to escape the floating life... Photo: Cong Kien

Cong Kien